New figures from Pieta House, the suicide and self-harm crisis service, show there was a significant rise in young people seeking its help last year.Some 1,923 people attended Pieta House, which has four centres in Dublin and one in Limerick, in 2011. This was an 81 per cent rise on 2010, when 1,063 attended.
The biggest increase was in the under-18 age group, which saw an increase of 93 per cent (462 last year compared to 239 in 2010). Some 70 per cent of the under 18s in 2011 were female.
This age group also had the highest instance of self-harm.
The figures were released ahead of Pieta House’s annual fundraiser, Darkness into Light, which takes place at 4am next Saturday.
Following a record turnout in Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Cork, Clare and Kerry last year the event will take place in 14 locations around the country. Counties Cavan, Waterford, Kildare, Laois, Roscommon, Tipperary, Mayo and Wicklow are lending their support this year.
People can register at dil.pieta.ie/